Jeff Jensen

Meyers seems capable of creating chemistry and having quality chats with anyone, from riding the wild waves of Kanye West to spinning a funny anecdote with pal Brad Paisley about accidentally stealing a Porsche. A talk-show host good at talking? Fancy that.

David Hinckley

David Sims

Fred Armisen is a surprising choice as bandleader, but he brings unequaled improv chops to the table, and his little banter with Seth every night has already proven one of the more reliably funny bits. Integrating him as much as possible is certainly a smart idea. Meyers, like Fallon, is also a more-than-capable interviewer.

Kristi Turnquist

As always, you can't judge a late-night host by a first show. But Meyers' debut indicates that his blend of intelligence and goofy humor will be a welcome addition to the crowded late-night neighborhood.

Alessandra Stanley

Michael Starr

Newly minted Late Night host Seth Meyers hit a few early potholes during his inaugural show Monday night--but eventually found his sea legs and drove his new 12:35 p.m. show to a solid, if unspectacular, debut.

James Poniewozik

The monologue was the sharpest part of Meyers’ first hour on the air (a departure from Fallon, whose monologue has never been his strength)–brisk, punctuated with self-deprecation, and wide-rangingly topical.... The distinguishing thing about the first night of Seth Meyers, in other words, was Seth Meyers, and the hour dropped little hints about how his personality and interests might shape the show.

Kevin Fallon

With all of the hype leading up to Meyers's debut on Late Night, it was disappointing that his opening monologue was scrappy.... On his own, Meyers was merely OK, especially considering that Fred Armisen, who leads Late Night's house band, was such a nonentity. Then Amy Poehler came on and everything was just splendid.

Tim Goodman

His monologue was staccato and hit and miss--sounding more like his "Weekend Update" bits than a real monologue. And his first attempt at a recurring bit, "Venn Diagrams," was overly clinical and less than funny, despite some good material.... The back-to-back segments of Poehler and Biden offered an early hint that Meyers really can do interviews and that worries over that element of his arsenal are exaggerated.

Mark A. Perigard

Tom Gliatto

Meyers is talented and interesting enough that I shouldn't be watching his premiere and wishing that Stefon had shown up instead of Joe Biden.... The monologue was nothing much. Meyers at least seemed instantly comfortable, at home, once he finished a string of so-so punchlines and sat down behind the desk.

Brian Lowry

Virtually nothing about this latest Late Night exhibited a whiff of freshness or originality.... On the plus side, Meyers came across as relaxed and loose, riffing on his show’s micro-budget and acknowledging the jokes that fell flat. The writing, however, simply wasn’t that strong.